Page 41 of Restored

Scanning the area, I’m relieved to find a dark green robe hanging on the back of the washroom door.

It appears to be a worn silk material and only comes to my upper thigh, but I’m thankful for it no less. When I put it on, it drapes nicely against my skin.

Opening the door, I see Ledger laying out some clothes on the bed.

“Stiny was able to find me some women’s clothing. Not sure how they will fit you, but I figured they would be better than your torn and tarnished…ones.” He stops dead in his tracks as he sees me. His eyes drag down my body. He swallows thickly, and his eyes linger before he clears his throat, looking away. He scratches the back of his head before speaking. “Sit down; we need to get those wounds rewrapped.” He juts his chin to the bed a few feet from me while turning to grab whatever supplies he snagged.

I glance down at myself, knowing it’s too late to change now and head over to the bed.

Before I can sit, Ledger lowers himself down the front of my body. My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as he passes along all my most sensitive parts until he is kneeling before me.

I brace myself, holding my breath. My hands fist the front of my robe, closing it further, and my eyes drift to the ceiling.

I let out a squeak of surprise when cool metal brushes my thigh. My eyes dart down as he cuts the wrap in two with his sharp dagger. “Would you stop doing that.” I say through gritted teeth as the wet fabric slaps onto the ground.

My eyes stay laser focused on Ledger on his hands and knees before me. I nearly quake at the sight of him.

The cool side of the dagger and his fingertips linger on the warmed skin of my thigh.

He studies the wound with a tight jaw. My toes dig into the floor as he blows out a breath.

“So, doc, am I going to live?”

“Sit, Layla,” he demands, and I do as I’m told almost immediately. “This is not funny; you could lose your leg if this gets infected.” My mouth is suddenly dry, and my palms slick. Wait, was Inervous?

Gods, I hope that my sudden feelings for this man are just from near-death experiences and blood loss. There is no other explanation—mere days ago, this man ripped me away from the only place I have ever called home.

The excruciating sting of the alcohol snaps me out of my thoughts. I choke as the cool liquid drips down my leg. Flying back, the bed thuds loudly against the withered wood walls causing particles to dust the air.

“Jesus, Ledger, you could warn me first.” I cradle my knee in my hand, carefully keeping the wound facing away from him.

“Give me back your leg; this must be done if you are fond of it.”

“Can’t someone a little more in tune with emotions do this—like Mia? I’m not one hundred percent convinced you feel pain— or really anything at all.”

“Alright, go ahead and stay like that. I’m rather enjoying the view.”

Remembering I am in a very small robe, I fling my leg back down, my hands scrambling to the ends of it again and pulling it as far down as I can. “You’re a pervert.” I glare as I slide back over to him. He wets the rag again, his lip ticking up for a moment.

“Brace yourself.” My hands move to the edge of the bed, squeezing, and when the alcohol-drenched rag touches my skin, a pained noise I didn’t know I was capable of is thrust from my throat.

Ledger’s hand drops as he fists the rag. “How does your healing ability work?” He stands.

“What?” I grit my teeth against the pain in my thigh.

“What do you think about when you heal? What activates your powers?”

“I don’t know, Ledger. What does this have to do with anything?”

“Please humor me, Layla. What were you thinking about when you healed me from the Kerolu?”

“I was thinking of things that provoke good feelings: the sunrise, the lagoon we stopped at.” I look away from him. “Stuff like that.”

“You’re not telling me something.”

“Well, I can’t remembereverything…”

“Layla.” He snarls my name.

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